Horsing at anchor in a river

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by Vasco

It's not a problem unless you're in a fin keeled boat and have to worry about being keel wrapped. To prevent this just use a 5 pound weight (get one that's plastic coated) tie it to your rode with a loop and run it down below the depth of your keel. No more worries about being keel wrapped.

Yes, I have a fin keeled boat and I was concerned about the rode wrapping itself around the keel. Your suggestion is basically what I did. It worked.

[kerrydeare]

Originally Posted by macbeth

... The theoretical answer to this is to throw a drogue over the stern. Not having a drogue, I threw a bucket over. Did not make any difference. ! How big a drogue would be needed for a 31' boat, and how far off the stern should it be ? 30', 60', .....?

Which "theory" are you referring to? The device attached to the boat will experience the same current effect as the boat. The boat does not know what a current is since the boat does not know that the bottom is moving one way (so to speak) and the water another. Same applies to the drogue.

Rule: All bets are off when anchoring in current versus wind. Also, you can get into serious pain if you try to fight a 2 or 3 knot current with rope and manpower. Things can break.